It is increasingly common to find in major Chinese cities imported food stores and supermarkets with wide ranges of products like chocolates, cheeses and beers.
From a statement issued by the Costa Rica Foreign Trade Promotion Office (PROCOMER):
The transition China has experienced has allowed imports to go from being expensive and difficult to being readily available.
The National Liquor Factory in Costa Rica is tendering the purchase of ethyl alcohol for use to rectify as a neutral alcohol and ethyl alcohol to age for the year 2015.
The estimated volume of alcohol for 2015 is 5.2 million liters ± 2% ethyl alcohol for rectification and 25,000 liters ± 2% alcohol to age.
The deadline for submission of bids is February 5, 2015.
The FDA now requires calorie information to be included on menus of restaurants, chain, similar retail food establishments and vending machines with 20 or more locations.
From a statement issued by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) US:
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the United States has finalized two regulations requiring the inclusion of calorie information on menus and menu boards in chain restaurants, similar retail food establishments and vending machines with 20 or more locations, in order to offer consumers greater nutritional information on food eaten outside of the home. The regulations are a requirement of the law on Affordable Health Care and Patient Protection 2010.
Between 2009 and 2013 sales of wine in the country increased by 77%, followed by vodka, which increased by 43%, whiskey 38% and rum 31%.
In 2013 wine came top in terms of import volumes, with a total of 9,256 tons. At the same time, its distribution in bars, restaurants, liquor stores and supermarkets during the same period grew by 32%.
Manuel Barrenechea, brand manager of Reserve de Diageo, told Elfinancierocr.com that "...
Eighteen brands of beers from Puebla, Mexico, are expected to start selling their products in countries in the region in December.
It is expected that starting from December several brands of craft beers manufactured in Mexico will be sold in Guatemala, Honduras and Panama, as a result of the efforts in trade fairs organized in recent years.
An increase in the consumption of craft beer has led the Florida Ice and Farm corporation to enter this niche market, where it is expected that the upward trend will continue.
Gisela Sánchez, director of corporate relations at Florida Ice and Farm, told Elfinancierocr.com that the company "... has decided to invest in creating a small craft beer business, completely independent of Cervecería Costa Rica."
In May the consumer price index rose by 0.53%, with food and non-alcoholic beverages, cigarettes, alcoholic beverages and various service groups having the largest increases.
From a statement by the National Institute of Statistics and Census (INEC)
The National Institute of Statistics and Census reports on the main results of the Consumer Price Index for the month of April 2014.
Up to 15% of the market in products such as cigarettes, liquor, drugs and footwear, is supplied with goods whose origins are illegal.
Added to the list of products that have traditionally been traded illegally, such as cigarettes and alcoholic beverages, there is an increasing tendency to smuggle medicines, shoes, clothing, and beauty and personal care products, among other things.
The trade association agreement between Central America and Europe means a reduction in import tariffs on alcoholic beverages.
With the entry into force of the Agreement between Europe and Central America (CAAA) comes a reduction in import costs, which in the case of champagne is a cut of 15%.
According to Javier Abreu, company representative of Vinos & Destilados in Costa Rica, this allows for a decrease in consumer prices of between 15% and 30% for brands such as Bonpas and Thorin (French wines) , Rioja Bordon and Diamante (Spanish wines) and Bombay Sapphire and Botanic (gin). A bottle of Moët & Chandon, for example, went from $95 to $63."
Costa Rica has the largest share of illegal liquor in the market of all the countries in Central America with 22%, while the average in other countries in the region is 8%.
Costa Rica also ranks among the top five countries in Latin America for having the most bootleg liquor in their markets, according to a study prepared by Euromonitor International for the Association of Producers and Importers of Alcoholic Beverages in Costa Rica (Apibaco).
In the last four years exports of distilled spirits and ethyl alcohol to Europe have tripled.
Improvements in both the quality and productivity have allowed Costa Rican companies to increase their presence not only in America but also in Europe.
Elfinancierocr.com reports: "Interestingly, on the website of Economics Trading Indicators - used as a reference by the Costa Rican Oil Refinery (Recope) - it states that the international prices of ethanol (ethyl alcohol) decreased 16.6 % in the last 12 months " . This means that despite the drop in prices, Costa Rican exports increased.
The National Chamber of Tourism has described the amounts for licenses for the sale of alcoholic beverages as disproportionate and unrealistic.
From a press release by the National Chamber of Tourism Canatur:
Disproportionate and far from reality is how the National Chamber of Tourism (CANATUR) has described the amounts for the payment of licenses for the sale of alcoholic beverages stipulated in Law No. 9047.
In the past five years, consumption of imported alcoholic beverages has tripled, led by a preference for premium quality spirits.
From an article by the Costa Rica Foreign Trade Promotion Office (PROCOMER):
The consumption of imported spirits in Peru has tripled in the last five years, according to Matías Jullian, marketing manager of Pernod Ricard in this country.
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